L-Carnosine Info

L-Carnosine -- what is it? Carnosine is a biologically active di-peptide that was first discovered by Russian scientist W. S. Gulewich. Carnosine occurs naturally in our heart, brain, muscles, and nervous system and is a very powerful substance in the body. The term "di-peptide" means it's the combination of two amino acids.

For L-Carnosine, this means it is the biochemical byproduct of beta-alanine and l-histidine. Interest in this humble substance has increased substantially and many experts now predict it will eventually become part of the daily supplementation of people over 40.

In fact, in the UK, Australia, Japan, Scandinavia, and of course in the U.S., nutritionists are recommending it heartily as a prime anti-aging antioxidant nutrient for Carnosine has the astonishing ability to actually enliven cells approaching the end of their life cycle, thus restoring and extending cellular normal life span.

L-Carnosine is truly a superstar nutrientwithin the body. While carnosine has many therapeutic abilities, as it combats aldehydes (highly reactive organic, chemical compounds) it helps in preventing Alzheimer's disease and other degenerative conditions where oxidative stress (free radical workings) are at play.

While its antioxidant ability is impressive, there's much more this substance l-carnosine can do. Let's discuss them now in the next section.

Basic Functions & Benefits of Carnosine

L-Carnosine has many functions chief of which is its antioxidant capability. Oxidizing agents are water-soluble free radical scavenger molecules that prevent lipid peroxidation within the cell membrane. Simply put, Carnosine not only prevents this oxidizing, hence the term antioxidant, but it also is active against free radicals after they form lipid peroxides and other second-tier radical molecular chemicals. The end result? L-Carnosine helps prevent aging.

Carnosine actually helps extend the life of the body's key cells, namely DNA, lipids, and proteins. It should also be mentioned that antioxidants are believed to contribute to degenerative diseases like cancer, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's and heart disease. Another ability L-Carnosine has is its ability to chelate (pull out) harmful metals from the body.

It actually pulls out these metals in cells and in the blood so they can be eliminated through the liver and kidneys. Basic functions of L-Carnosine include:

• Improves elasticity of blood vessels
• Improves enzyme activity
• Limits free radicals
• Helps slow down the aging of skin, thus minimizing the growth of wrinkles and the breakdown of skin elasticity.
• Removes heavy metals like lead from the body
• Inproves oxygen movement to the cells
• Helps dilate clogged arteries
• Increases blood flow to the heart, brain, as well as throughout the entire body.
• Helps reduce blood pressure (hypertension)
• An Australian team research team has found that supplementation with carnosine increases strength and endurance of fatigued muscles -- this is of special interest to bodybuilders and athletes in general.

How To Choose a L-Carnosine Supplement

Finding quality supplements is difficult as there are so many dishonest companies out there literally selling hundreds and hundreds of supplements of all kinds and varieties. In order to make as informed a decision as possible, we recommend the following criteria, based on our own experience, that can help you save money as well as get the best supplement possible.

1. The supplements should be produced at pharmaceutical standard GMP registered facilities. Facilities that are GMP registered comply with the most rigid standards so as to minimize the possibility of product contaminants. (These are the same standards pharmaceutical companies in the United States are required to operate under as mandated by the FDA.) Nutritional supplements are not regulated by FDA and as such fraud is rampant with many so-called supplements containing contaminants with 1 in 5 not having the ingredients as proclaimed on the label!

2. Ideally, make sure the supplement does not contain any fillers or additives such as sucrose (sugar), starch, gluten, silica (sand) or any other artificial colors, dyes, or flavors.

3. Look for tablets with enteric coating as this inert substance protects the vitamins from being lost in the gastric acids. Enteric coating protects the vitamins until they can dissolve in the upper intestine where they are then assimilated into the blood stream.

4. Take L-Carnosine with a full spectrum of other nutrients for maximum efficacy. Nutrients don't exist in a vacuum, they are interdependent within the system. Ideally, Carnosine supplements should also have vitamins E, C, and the minerals zinc, selenium, and copper as it spares their consumption in cellular tissues. Research has shown that carnosine actually can buffer copper and zinc toxicity in the brain.

Quality Carnosine

After much research, we found a company based in New Zealand that offers GMP compliant products, and meets all the above criteria. Their vitamin supplement product, not only has L-Carnosine but this pharmaceutical-grade quality multivitamin is a scientifically formulated containing a full spectrum of vitamins, minerals, trace and specialty minerals, and nutrient-rich enzymes.

I've been taking this supplement for more than a year now and can attest to its benefits. I hope this web page has been useful to you.

Yours in health, hope, and harmony,
Nutritional-Supplement-Bible.com